After the roughly thirty-minute cruise we arrived at Togendai Port and got off the pirate ship. We bought ropeway tickets and got into a gondola.
The gondolas hold up to eighteen people, but it was just us. The ropeway runs at about one-minute intervals so turnover is decent, but still — quite the coincidence.
“Kano-san, look — the pirate ship’s getting smaller.”
“Yeah, in a minute it’ll be the size of a bean.”
We were enjoying the view from the gondola. The current time was just past noon — they say evening rides over the glittering surface of Lake Ashi are even more spectacular.
“Oh, Fuji.”
“We saw it from the deck too, but it’s good every time.”
“Yeah. It’s a clear day so it really looks beautiful.”
She was in high spirits, photographing Fuji. That would also be hitting socials shortly.
“You know, we’re alone together in a closed room right now. Nobody’s coming to help. Isn’t this a chance to do all those things we could never normally do?”
“No — I would not.”
I do not have that kind of courage. Kano is a high-flower way out of my league, far too dazzling for me. Then she leaned close with a grin.
“I meant I was going to make a move on you, you know.”
“What?!”
She was suddenly very close — a few more centimeters and our lips would have been touching.
The sweet scent of her had my head spinning. I couldn’t think. Below the belt I was painfully alert. My self-control was teetering on the brink. After the bath I’d held the line — apparently my reservoir was almost out.
“Just kidding.”
”…What?”
She drew away. I should have felt relieved.
Instead, I felt the disappointment of an aborted near-miss. I’m supposed to be in love with Suzuno and I’m feeling like this — I’m honestly the worst.
I’d lost track of time spiraling in self-loathing, and we were nearly at the terminus — Owakudani Station.
“Oh, we’re there.”
”…Twenty minutes went fast.”
“Felt like five to me, honestly.”
“Five is overdoing it.”
I tried to act normal, but I had no idea how it actually came across.
She might have been picking something up — but the fear of her disliking me was so consuming that I performed normal Yuito hard.
At Owakudani we got off and headed straight to the second-floor restaurant.
Owakudani Station sits at 1,044 meters elevation — the view from the restaurant was supposed to be spectacular.
”…Is jet-black curry actually good?”
“Hmm. Have to try it to find out.”
We were looking at the menu board in front of the restaurant. The black curry on the menu was ink-black — gave us pause.
We dithered, but the menu line a taste you can’t find anywhere else won. We ordered, and when the curry came we cautiously tried it.
“This is good.”
“I could eat several plates.”
The black curry — gentle sweetness of beef, distinctive richness — was honestly excellent.
The retort version is sold downstairs, so we decided to grab some as souvenirs for home.
After lunch we browsed the souvenir shop, then got back on the ropeway. Next stop: Soun-zan, where the cable car station is.
From there we’d take the cable car to Hakone-Yumoto Station, transfer to the Romance Car, and back to Tokyo. The mini-trip would be done. Tomorrow was a normal weekday with school, so we planned to wrap up at a reasonable time.
“Now we’re not alone.”
“Earlier just happened to have no one. This is normal.”
I deflected her sulky comment with a casual expression, but truthfully I’d preferred just us too.
I might be a little off lately. Feeling this way toward Kano — I never expected it.